Transporting pigs in Canada has many challenges. These include extremes of temperature and long transport durations that can cause stress in pigs, affecting welfare, transit losses and meat quality. Transport times of 6, 12 and 18 hours were studied on meat quality and stress physiology, along with compartmental variation and season effects. More stress is noted in longer durations and in the summer due to heat stress. Some compartments had much greater effects as well and meat quality decreased with higher stress levels. Improving truck design and optimizing transport practices and handling can help ameliorate some of the stress experienced.
Effects of Transport Duration on the Stress Response and Pork Quality of Pigs (full article)
